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When does it first snow in Houghton Lake, MI?

At Houghton Lake, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 10. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Oct 19, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 30 or later. The earliest was Oct 2 (2003-04) and the latest Dec 1 (2011-12). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 16, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Sep 24, and the last freeze of spring around May 21.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Sep 26 at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Nov 10Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 16Median first 1"+ snowfall

64.4"Average snowfall per season

73%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Sep 24Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 21Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

127Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Houghton Lake

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Nov 10	Oct 19 – Nov 30	Oct 2 (2003-04)	Dec 1 (2011-12)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 16	Oct 29 – Dec 2	Oct 2 (2003-04)	Dec 17 (2011-12)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 1	Nov 9 – Jan 13	Oct 2 (2003-04)	Feb 27 (2001-02)	100%

Based on 26 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	19%	96%	100%
1"+	15%	81%	100%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 9 (median).

White Christmas odds in Houghton Lake

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Houghton Lake had that in 73% of years, at least 3 inches in 58%, and at least 6 inches in 38%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 5.0 inches and the deepest was 20 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 27% of years. Based on 26 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground, by date

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Jan 21 (98%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Houghton Lake

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Sep 24	Sep 4 – Oct 12	Aug 21 (2004) / Oct 23 (1995)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 21	May 6 – Jun 1	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 6	Sep 23 – Oct 26	Sep 16 (2011) / Nov 4 (2021)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 29	Apr 19 – May 18	–	100%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 127 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Houghton Lake Roscommon Co Ap (USW00094814), elevation 1,150 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

Planning for winter? Heat pump vs gas furnace, propane and oil: heating cost in Michigan (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).